Pepe Oriola delighted with Valencia pole position

Pepe Oriola took pole position in Valencia, Spain, for tomorrow’s Race 1. The Spaniard set his time early in Q2 and retained the lead until the flag.

“I did not expect to be on Pole Position,” said the Craft Bamboo Lukoil driver. “At the beginning of Q1 my pace was a bit too slow, but I said to myself I had to do it because it is my home track, I had more to extract and I did it. I’m really happy.”

Oriola also commented on the close gaps shown in qualifying, with some fourteen cars in seven tenths in Q1:”I think the competition here is very strong. Being so close, and with such a track, which is difficult to overtake on, I think the races will be very exciting as everyone will be trying to make his way through the field. The tyres will play a big part, also due to the fact that the races will be slightly longer. We are going to have a good fight.”

Having carried out a race simulation, Oriola found the tyre wear was acceptable, although without the pressure of cars trying to overtake him the Spaniard believes it will not mirror the situation he will find tomorrow: “I made a race simulation yesterday and it was good, but of course when you’re testing you don’t have the pressure of people trying to overtake you, so I think the best strategy will be to have a good start, push at the beginning and see if I can open up a gap, which I will then manage. Surely we had an issue with the tyres in China, especially in the last two laps.”

The Spaniard also touched on the Race 2 subject, as he will start from tenth, and will have the problem of having to overtake several cars on a twisty track such as the Ricardo Tormo: “I think I will have to be careful in the second race, I need to score points. Of course if there is a chance to overtake I will try to do it, but it is important to finish the race for the championship, it’s not just a single race.

I think the goal will have to be around fifth, especially if I manage to win the first race. The best way to try to overtake is probably trying to push the opponent in a mistake, the last few laps will be hard for everyone, so I will try to make use of that situation.”

Oriola believes WestCoast Racing’s Gianni Morbidelli scored tenth on purpose, in order to start from pole in Race 2, and thinks the Italian was very brave to do so: “It’s quite risky to do that, because you can easily slip down to eleventh and ruin your weekend. If he doesn’t make a mistake I think he will win the race tomorrow.”

Pepe Oriola collected five points today, two more than new series leader Stefano Comini, and now has a total of 54 to his name.